Visit the river towns of Columbia, Marietta, Wrightsville and the surrounding area to shop, dine in a cozy eatery, visit quaint antique shops and museums and shops off the beaten path with the Passport to River Towns program, coordinated by the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The passes cost $5, and offer specially designed discounts and or promotions offered only to holders of the pass. They are currently available at the Visitors Center and many of the participating businesses.

The program will run on weekends beginning Jan. 20 and ending Feb. 11. For more information on the program contact the Visitors Center at 684-5249.

Now that the excitement of Christmas is past and the decorations are packed away, long
winter evenings stretch ahead of us. Why not fill them with some good books….either
the “old standard” physical volume or a book downloaded to an e-reader!
E-readers have become quite the rage. If you were lucky enough to have Santa bring you
one for Christmas, we have step-by step instruction cards at the library on how to
download books into it! And, yes, the Library System of Lancaster County has a
collection of e-books! Called “Overdrive”, there is a link directly on the front page of
our website (www.columbia.lib.pa.us). Just look for the “Download audiobooks ebooks”
link at the bottom of the page.
While you can browse and choose the titles to fill your “ecart”, internet connection
limitations prevent you from actually downloading the books into your device at the
library itself. It is recommended that you use a home or office PC with internet access
for the actual download.
Overdrive’s front page includes a quick start guide, frequently asked questions, and a
guided tour of digital media. The guided tour is exceptionally helpful, especially if you
are new to digital media (like myself!)
If you prefer to hold a physical book in your hands (as many of us do!), here are some of
the new releases for January:
Private: # 1 Suspect by James Patterson
Love In a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
Gun Games: a Decker/Lazarus Novel by Faye Kellerman
Breakdown: a V.I. Warshawski Novel by Sara Paretsky
Deadline by Fern Michaels
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Gideon’s Corpse by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Look of Love: a Piper Donovan Mystery by Mary Jane Clark
Death Comes To Pemberley by P.D. James (this is a mystery involving the characters of
Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”. It is already here!)
Mrs. Coni Haas’ Monday Night Storytimes have “Winter Fun” as their theme:
Monday, January 2: library closed for New Year’s
Monday, January 9: “Animals and Birds In Winter”
Monday, January 16: “Mittens and Snowy Days”
Monday, January 23: “It’s All About Cookies!”
Monday, January 30: “Nursery Rhymes”
Our annual Mitten Tree was another success. 224 items have been donated to help keep
your neighbors warm this winter. Kudos to Shirl Stumpf, who is continuing the
Columbia tradition of creating caps and scarves all year long. Shirl donated a total of 155
hats and scarves….ALL HAND CROCHETED! She is continuing the legacy of our
anonymous donor, who passed away in 2011. Thanks also go to Danielle Peters of St.
Paul’s Episcopal and Jean Phiel of St. John’s Lutheran for distributing the items collected
to families who need them.
Family Film Nights for January (Wednesdays at 6 PM)
Wednesday, January 4: “Alvin and the Chipmunks” (postponed from
an earlier date)
Wednesday, January 11: “The Wizard of Oz”
Wednesday, January 18: “Madagascar”
Wednesday, January 25: “Cars 2”
The Columbia Public Library is following up on a very worthwhile and popular outreach
begun last year. “Food For Fines” involves bringing in nonperishable food items for the
Columbia Food Bank during the weeks of January 16 through January 30. Personal
hygiene items for the traveling winter shelter will also be collected. Each item donated
will allow the donor to have $1.00 removed from their outstanding library fines. Of
course, people who have no fines are certainly welcome to donate as well!
According to Danielle Peters and Sue Ohler of the Columbia Food Bank, most-needed
items are jelly (any flavor), canned meats such as Spam or canned stews, baked beans,
and chunky-style soups Items needed for the winter shelter include personal (travel)
sized soap, shampoos, and toothpaste. Items will be collected between Monday, January
16 and Monday, January 30.
January also means tax materials are arriving. The Columbia Public Library has the most
popular forms you’ll need….and we can print any specialized forms from the IRS or PA
Revenue websites. If you need help preparing your forms, remember to schedule an
appointment with Mr. Samuel Edmond. He will be happy to help you complete and
submit your form electronically. Please call 406-8143 for an appointment.
The Columbia Public Library is offering a Highmark/Blue Shield Medicare Solutions
Seminar on January 30, 2011 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. Topics of discussion include
Medicare Advantage products such as FreedomBlue PPO, Medigap and Prescription
Drug products (BlueRx PDP). This seminar is especially beneficial to those who are new
to the Medicare process. There is no charge.
The Columbia Public Library is located on 24 S. 6th Street, next to Park Elementary School.
(Cattycorner to CVS Pharmacy and across the street from St. John’s Lutheran Church) Phone
number is 684-2255 and web address is www.columbia.lib.pa.us. Find us on Facebook! Please
stop by and visit often!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Police are investigating a robbery at the Gayle Kline RV Cemtere, East Main Street, Mountville, Dec. 12.
Polixe said five RVs were forceably entered and five large screens televsions were removed.

Police said officials of the Oak Hollow Apartment complex reported the theft of eletronics from an apartment, Dec. 13.

Dennis Wishard, 43, of Mountville, was charged with simple assault as the result of a domestic dispute, Dec.9.
Police said Wishard hit his girlfriend with a baseball bat.

Police are investigating the theft of electronics from Kmart, 3975 Columbia Ave., Dec. 3.
Employees said they obseerved a male cutting open eletronic pacxkages, but fled the store before police arrived.

Andrew M. Zeamer, Columbia has been elected to serve as Worshipful Master of Columbia Lodge 286 for 2012

Zeamer, 29, resides in Columbia with his wife Amanda and 2 daughters, Mildree and Stella. He is employed at Dart Container, Lancaster as Fusion Department Manager. Zeamer is a member of the Old Columbia Public Grounds Committee and the Columbia Park Rangers

According to Zeamer he is looking forward as serving the Columbia Lodge this coming year and values the opportunity to continue the support the Lodge provides to the Columbia community. The Masons have supported the Shade Tree Commission, Columbia Historical Society and provides a scholarship to a senior at the local High School.

ALICIA R. VINELLI, AGE 34, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED\ FOR RETAIL THEFT AT MUSSER’S MARKET, 960 LANCASTER AVENUE, DEC. 12.
VINELLI HAD $17.40 WORTH OF ITEMS IN HER PURSE THAT SHE DID NOT PAY FOR WHEN SHE LEFT THE STORE.

RACHEL ANN SIMMS, AGE 30, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVERS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED, IN THE 300 BLOCK OF MAPLE STREET, DEC. 13.

JOHN STEVEN RUCH, AGE 25, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CHARGED AND ARRAINGED BEFORE DISTRICT JUSTICE ROBERT A. HERMAN AND COMMITED TO LANCASTER COUNTY PRISION ON TWO CHARGES OF FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE. ONE CHARGE IS FROM FLORIDA AND THE OTHER CHARGE IS FROM VIRGINIA. THE FLORIDA
CHARGE IS FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY AND THE CHARGE(S) FROM VIRGINIA IS FOR A PAROLE VIOLATION FOR A FELONY CHARGE OF VEHICLE THEFT.

Monday, December 12, 2011

JUSTIN WILLIAM FLANAGAN, 24, OF COLUMBIA, CITED FOR STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS AT THIRD AND CHERRY STREETS, NOV. 21.

JOSE LUIS SOLORIO, AGE 21, OF HANOVER, WAS CITED FOR A RED LIGHT SIGNAL VIOLATION AT LOCUST AND THIRD STREETS, DEC. 6.

KENNETH LIGHTCAP, AGE 42, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED, IN AVENUE
N, DEC. 2.

JAMES SCOTT ZERCHER, AGE 33, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 100 BLOCK OF BETHEL STREET AND RIDGE AVENUE, AFTER BEING IN THE STREET AND YELLING AT PASSING MOTORISTS THAT HE WANTED TO BE RUN OVER BY A VEHICLE, DEC. 2.

KEVIN S. WOLGEMUTH, AGE 23, OF MARIETTA, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS AND YIELD SIGNS, AT ROUTE 30 AND LINDEN STREET, DEC. 9.

JAMES JULIANA, AGE 50, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE, AT NORTH THIRD. AND LINDEN STREETS, DEC. 10.

REBEKAH LYNN BROWN, AGE 32, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 400 BLOCK OF UNIONN STREET, DEC. 11.

West Hempfield Township Police are investigating the theft of between $100 and $150 worth of toys from a Toys for Tots box from a business in the 100 block of North Donnerville Road, between noon and 5 p.m., Dec. 7.
Police said employees of the business reported two white fenales, between the ages of 30 and 30, with an average build, height and weight entered the business, saying they were from Toys for Tots, took the toys and left. Employees became concerned when the pair did not return and call Toys for Tots and were told of the scam.
Anyone with any information is asked to call West Hempfield Township Police at 285-5191.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Maxwell Football Club President, Ron Jaworski, announced the 2011 Mini Max High School Award winners for the state of Pennsylvania. The sixty players selected are from schools located in Districts 1,3,11 and 12 in the eastern half of the state. Players were nominated by their coaches throughout the 2011 season and were evaluated based on a criteria that includes; academics, football performance and community service.

Representing Columbia High School is Michael Burke IV.

The Mini Max Award recipients will be honored at a dinner to be held on Thursday January 19, 2012 at the Drexelbrook Catering Ballroom in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. The awards dinner is open to the public and tickets are available on the Club’s website www.maxwellfootballclub.org.

The Maxwell Football Club will select one player from the group of Mini Max winners as the winner of the Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year. The Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year will be announced on January 19, 2012 at the Awards Dinner.

For the first time the Maxwell Football Club will also host a New Jersey Mini Max Awards Dinner which will be held on Sunday January 15

th at the Heldrich Ballroom in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Players from the entire state of New Jersey will be eligible for selection as part of this program. The New Jersey Mini Max Award Winners and the New Jersey High School Player of the Year will be announced at this event.

The winner of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Players of the Year will be the candidates for the Club’s 27th

Jim Henry Award as the Outstanding Player in the region. The winner of the Jim Henry Award will be announced as part of the Maxwell Football Club’s National Awards Gala which will be held on Friday March 2, 2012 at Harrah’s Atlantic City Resort. The MFC will also present it’s collegiate and professional awards at this event. Tickets for the 75th Maxwell Football Club National Awards Gala are on sale on the Club’s website www.maxwellfootballclub.org or by calling 215-643-3833.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Looking for a way to get some exercise without going to the gym? Come out to the Locust Street Park in Columbia on Saturday, Dec. 10, and help the Columbia Park Rangers remove leaves.
The Park Rangers have been around since 2001 and are comprised of community volunteers that want to give a "little extra shine" to the local parks. In most cases there is only enough money in the Park's budget to take of mowing and the extra things like leaf removal, trimming, pulling weeds, painting, repairs and mulching fall by the wayside.
To volunteer or for more information, call Jeff Groff at 684-0861 or email him at jgroff@fandm.edu.

Santa will visit the National Watch and Clock Museum, 514 Poplar St., Saturday, Dec. 10. After he arrives, children may visit with him from 10 a.m. to noon and share with him their holiday wishes. Parents are welcomed to take pictures and enjoy yuletide music and punch and cookies around the Christmas tree.
The museum's Family Timepiece Workshop will also be held during Santa's visit. Registered participants will create a holiday theme clock using a compact disc as the dial. Cost is $10 for each person making a clock, and admission to the museum is included with the workshop fee.
Anyone bringing an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots may participate in the workshop for just $5. Pre-registration is required by contacting the Education Department at 684-8261, ext. 237.